Publication: N24 / Review period: December 1-31, 2020
Overview of the Kremlin Policy in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region is being prepared within the framework of the project - Roadmap to Kremlin's Policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali Region. The purpose of the publication is to review important developments related to Russia’s policy in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. The review is a monthly publication and will be useful for everyone – decision-makers, public employees, media representatives and other people who are interested in the Kremlin policy in the occupied regions of Georgia.
December 2020 Main Events in Brief:
Government Officials
On December 7, 2020, a representative of the Russian Federal Security Service in Abkhazia, the Colonel Alexander Oparin, met with the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania. This was Oparin’s last working meeting. He will be replaced by the Colonel Alexander Sobol who, at the same time, is an adviser to the Diplomatic Mission of the Russian de facto embassy in Abkhazia.
Meeting with Government Officials
On December 11, 2020, the de facto President of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, paid another working visit to Russia. Unlike his previous visits to Russia, this visit was particularly busy and ended on 19 December. During the visit, Bzhania met with several representatives of the Russian government. The main purpose of the meetings was to discuss issues related to the implementation of the November 12 agreement reached in Sochi between Bzhania and the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. On November 12, the parties approved a program for the formation of a common social and economic space between Russia and Abkhazia on the basis of harmonization of the legislation of Abkhazia and the Russian Federation. The program is aimed at creating favourable conditions for the full participation of Abkhazia in integration processes initiated or supported by Russia.
Aslan Bzhania meeting with Dmitry Kozak, responsible for the direction of Abkhazia. Source: Web-page of the de facto president of Abkhazia
Military Exercises
The Southern Military District of the Russian Federation
In 2021, military servicemen of the Southern Military District of the Russian Federation will take part in dozens of planned international exercises. Armenia, Algeria, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Turkey will also participate in joint military exercises. The de facto armed forces of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region will also be involved in the exercises.
Military exercises at the 7th military base in Abkhazia
Other news from the 7th military base
Military exercises at the 4th military base in the Tskhinvali region
Other news from the 4th military base
A detailed review of the activities of the Russian Military forces in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in December 2020 can be found here.
Cooperation in the Field of the Economy
Moscow and Tskhinvali will jointly control the movement of goods at the de facto border
Moscow and Tskhinvali agreed to jointly control the movement of goods and vehicles at the de facto border. The agreement is aimed at minimizing customs barriers. Joint control is being exercised at the Kvemo Zaramagi checkpoint since December 30. The problem has long been associated with the import of goods from Russia into the Tskhinvali region, in particular, entrepreneurs in the Tskhinvali region are required to declare and execute documents in accordance with the customs rules of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The integration of Abkhazian and Russian payment systems has been completed
According to the de facto National Bank of Abkhazia Russian citizens in Abkhazia in 2020 were actively using cards of the Russian payment system Mir. In 2020, transactions with the Mir cards totaled RUB 1.2 billion, three times exceeding the 2019 data. The integration of the payment systems of Mir and the Abkhazian APRA is also completed, which allows residents of Abkhazia to use the APRA “World” payment cards outside Abkhazia. In 2020, APRA cardholders spent RUB 40 million in Russia, 20 times exceeding the last year data. APRA “World” cardholders made transactions in 170 cities of Russia.
APRA “World” payment card. Source: Web-page of the de facto National Bank of Abkhazia
Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture
Russian delegation pays a visit to Abkhazia
A meeting between representatives of the agricultural sector of Abkhazia and Russia was held at the de facto government of Abkhazia. The meeting focused on issues such as the cultivation of gardens, the development of livestock, training of young specialists and personnel qualification.
A record number of Abkhazia tangerines exported to Russia
According to Beslan Jopua, the de facto Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture of Abkhazia, from 1000 to 1900 tons of tangerines are exported from Abkhazia to Russia daily. As of December 22, Russia has exported 32.8 tons of tangerines, a record number since 1993. In 2019, 9.4 thousand tons were exported, and in 2018 - 13.8 thousand tons.
Cooperation in the Field of Healthcare
House of Moscow handed over medical equipment to the village of Pskhu
The House of Moscow, located in Sokhumi, handed over medical equipment to the mountainous village of Pskhu in Abkhazia. Wheelchairs, crutches, special mattresses, automated blood pressure monitors and more were delivered to the outpatient clinic of Pskhu.
Field hospital in Tskhinvali completed its work
On December 17, a multidisciplinary mobile hospital of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, deployed in Tskhinvali in late October, completed the work. The hospital treated a total of 192 people and performed 2,249 PCR or laboratory tests since the start of the work.
Tskhinvali region will receive RUB 80 million from Russia to fight the coronavirus
The Russian government allocated RUB 79.7 million from its reserve fund to fight the coronavirus in the Tskhinvali region. The funds will be used to purchase medicines and special equipment, as well as pay salaries of medical staff.
Russia donated 45 thousand test systems to Abkhazia
The Rospotrebnadzor donated 45 thousand test systems to the Sanitary Epidemiological Station of Abkhazia for diagnosing the coronavirus infection. 15 thousand test systems have already been delivered to the de facto republic and the rest will be handed over later.
Cooperation in the Field of Education
The de facto Minister of Education and Language Policy of Abkhazia, Inal Gablia, signed an agreement on cooperation with the Director of Belgorod State Technological University, Sergey Bulgakov. The cooperation involves interaction in the fields of education, science and culture. At the meeting, special attention was paid to the training of engineers.
Cooperation in Various Fields
A working group of the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media paid a visit to Abkhazia. According to the Russian delegation, the transition to digital broadcasting will take about two years. The Abkhaz and Russian sides jointly monitored TV towers and TV centres. Technical issues related to network design as well as training of specialists were discussed at the meeting.
Russian “Soft Power”
Within the framework of the Russian Language Russia's Federal Program and with the support of the Russian “embassy,” the Rossotrudnichestvo office in the Tskhinvali region:
Handing over books to the village of Orchosani. Source: Web-page of the Rossotrudnichestvo office in the Tskhinvali region